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Posted By Kate on January 3, 2011

Part 4: A long article, but a memory refresher of some of the major events that occurred in July.


Sunday, July 25, 2010
Career Politician Gone Bad. Rep Charlie Rangel (D) from NY and the Chairman of the Ways & Means Committee has been charged with multiple ethics violations stemming from his failure to pay taxes on his rental property for all these years and to report his income among a list of other charges. Rangel has served in the House for 40 years and 4 of his fellow House members of the Ethics Committee will specify the charges and then send the charges for a House Trial to an 8-member House Committee (bi-partisan) made up of Republicans and Democrats which will decide if the charges can be supported by enough evidence to merit some order of punishment. The timing is bad for the Democrats since the mid-term elections are just a few months away. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said that she would “drain the swamp” of unethical behavior and now is her chance to throw out this career politician.

Sunday, July 25, 2010
Speed Warning Found to be a Hoax. E-mails have been spreading this weekend that the Georgia State Patrol will be stopping drivers for speeding on Atlanta highways – as an effort to bring in needed revenue for the state. The source of the warning was told to be the Atlanta Constitution but they denied the rumor. The State Patrol office in Atlanta said they were not the source. Snopes was consulted and found it not true. Further investigation uncovered the same e-mail had been circulating in other states as long ago as 2005. So a hoax that perhaps would save lives is still an untruth.

Sunday, July 25, 2010
Clarke County Student Dropout Rate Decreased. As reported in the Athens Banner Herald in  the July Editorial, the Clarke Board of Education and Superintendent Phillip Lanoue reached their commitment to reduce the number of student dropouts for this past school year. Instead of the 248 students who dropped out the year before, only 160 dropped out this year. Making a one-on-one relationship with at-risk students seemed to have been part reason for the improvement. While they are happy with the results, they are committed to reduce that number even further.

Monday, July 26, 2010
SeaPort Airlines Wins Over Georgia Skies Airlines.  The players in charge, Athens Mayor Davison, the Athens Clarke Airport Authority recommended that Federal funds go to SeaPort Airlines, Inc rather than the current recipient of those funds – Georgia Skies, Inc. The reason for the switch? – Georgia Skies did not live up to its promises of excellent professional customer service although the authorities said it was a very tough decision to make. Georgia Skies may be back in the near future.

Monday, July 26, 2010
Classified Documents Leaked Through WikiLeaks. Wikikeaks is an international non-profit organization that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous sources. The latest leaks contain more than 91,000 Afghan war documents which has the White House scrambling for damage control. Some military officers say the material contains battlefield reports and is nothing more than tactical information and, at best, is speculation by those persons speaking at the time. Others are concerned that info could be gleaned that would put war operations in Afghanistan at risk although no hint of any change in policy for fighting the war has come forth. Some of the writing indicated that Pakistan was betraying the US by helping the Afghan militant with aid to fight against the US. A fellow named Junian Assange started the whistleblower Web news site claiming that a US Pfc had access to a computer at Langley Air Force Base with high level military secrets and copied the information onto a “stick” (a small 3-inch device with memory in the terra bytes) that plugs into a computer’s CPU unit for copying and passes the info on to Assange. He threatens more leaks in the immediate future.

Monday, July 26, 2010
Sales of New Homes Up a Bit. The Commerce Department announced today that sales of new homes was up by 330,000 (seasonally adjusted to an annual rate) during last month (June), a few 100 more than last month and in this same month a year ago. In comparison, an average of 600,000 (seasonally adjusted to an annual rate) new homes were built and sold monthly from 1983 to 2007. Before the housing industry went south in 2007, the percentage of new home sales was 15% of the market as compared to about 7% in 2010.  Tight money, scarce job opportunities and a high unemployment rate have kept the market crawling at a snail’s pace. The number of people looking to build dropped significantly in spite of the lowest mortgage rates since the mid-1980s. Sales are up a bit but the numbers are not very significant as far as the state of economic recovery.

Monday, July 26, 2010
Tax Holiday for School Supplies Cancelled. The Legislators have reneged on allowing tax free supplies for a weekend this year in order to help off-set the state’s loss of revenue during this recession.  But the record shows that a tax-free weekend actually brings in additional revenue for the state and reasoning by retailers reveal a little known affect: the tax-free weekend is advertised by the government therefore every citizen of the state knew about it – such advertising that most small or medium sized businesses cannot afford and that brings in more customers and therefore more revenue is collected than is gained by the 7% sales tax. Retailers maintain that the state actually loses money by cancelling.

Monday, July 26, 2010
Administrative Judge Walker Ruled Against Inter-basin Water Transfer. An electric plant called Plant Washington to be built in Washington County (Sandersville) by Power4 Georgians, LLC was given notice today that its permit to draw water from the Oconee River (Oconee Watershed) and transport it 30 miles to the plant site in Sandersville (Ogeechee Watershed) to be used for cooling and returned to the river is null and void until the EPD reviews the conditions of the permit again. Electricity generated would serve customers in 6 energy cooperatives all over Georgia. Environmentalist want the coal-fired plant stopped altogether because of the potential for air pollution and the transfer of water from one watershed to another which is against state law. Walker noted that the transfer portion of the permit should have required further scrutiny by the EPD. EPD Director Allen Barnes said he would have no comment until he has read and studied the ruling. Environmental lawyers said that if Power4 is allowed to go forward, it would open up a flood gate of requests to transfer water from one basin to another which the 2010 Legislators passed a law to prevent. The Power4 backers did not think the ruling would impact the construction of the plant, only the timing. “There will be some delay until a compromise is reached by both parties,” said a Power4 advocate. By law, the Judge’s ruling can be appealed. Withdrawing water from the Oconee River and returning only 1/10 of it will eventually decrease water availability for all those residents down-stream of the river.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Sewer Line Exceeds Original Costs. The original cost was under-estimated and now the cost exceeds $400,000, a concern of the BOC, but they finally voted tonight to move forward to use the 2004 SPLOST funds to construct the line that will give sewer capacity to St May’s Highland Hills complex and to the Zoom Bait Company, a fishing supply store: St Mary’s has recently built a new facility for Alzheimer customers and Zoom Bait is a new company opening in the Jennings Mill Business Park in Oconee County. The easements for the two tracts of land have not been agreed yet but talks are in the works and will be successful according to Chairman Melvin Davis. Some of the $400,000 funds were received as a grant from the State Department of Community Affairs but were much below the actual cost which have increased after having encountered the need to blast rock, the need to cross a wetland and 2 creeks and repairs to the existing system according to Chris Thomas, Director of the Oconee Utility Department. The nearby huge shopping Center located behind Lowe’s that will come on line next year will connect into the sewer system at a different location.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Economic Stats for Oconee County.   Single family housing permits numbered:
338 in 2007
131 in 2008
68 in 2009
The unemployment rate in the county has shown an upward trend:
4.6% in 2008
5.5% in 2009
9.3% in 2010
Fewer homes are being built and thus more people are out of work.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Planning Commission Rejects Staff Denial for Rezone. It doesn’t happen very often, but the 12-member Oconee Planning Commission voted to approve the rezone request by Rodney Jones that the staff had recommended to deny. The request was for an expansion to annex 5 undeveloped lots which Jones had purchased recently in an established subdivision (Fern Hill) into the adjacent Meridian Subdivision (owned and developed by Jones), an upper level neighborhood (average homes sell for $600,000 to $900,000 while those in Fern Hill sell for about $300,000). The request met all the criteria and 14 conditions put on the request (if it passed) were all agreeable with the builder. Many residents in the Fern Hill neighborhood objected sternly and made it known at the meeting. The request would not cost the county and would bring in about $35,000 a year in taxes if built on the Meridian standard rather than $17,000 per year if built on the Fern Hill standard. Jones, a developer from Savannah has been lucky to sell his homes for the higher price in this sagging economy. He assures that the same will happen with the additional lots to be annexed from Fern Hill. The point of contention was that a high priced neighborhood was “taking over” the less expensive and smaller homes to the dismay of Fern Hill residents. The Planner for the rezone request was Ken Beall who remarked that the Fern Hill neighborhood had no neighborhood association, was inactive in further building of the lots and having Jones build the higher priced homes would be a plus for the Fern Hill residents. He was convincing and the Commission approved the request by a 4:3 vote (several members were absent). The request will now go to the Board of Commissioners for a decision. The staff felt that there was too much modification to the building plan to approve the request without many comprehensive “conditions.” Planning Commission Members appointed by Board of Commissioners are:
Chuck Steen (Post 1)
Penny Mills (Post 2)
Mike Floyd (Post 3)
Bill Ramsey (Post 4)
Bill Yarbrough (Post 5)
Chuck Hunt (Post 6)
Dan Webber (Post 7)
Dan Arnold, Chair (Post
Those members appointed by City Councils are:
George Rodrigues (Watkinsville – Post 9)
Karl Berg (North High Shoals – Post 10)
David Camp (Bogart – Post 11)
Bruce MacPherson (Bishop – Post 12)
Note: Chairman Dan Arnold recused himself from the discussion and the vote, citing that he was the seller of the 5 lots to Jones.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Georgia Recipient of Race to the Top Federal Stimulus Program. Governor Perdue announced today that Georgia is one of 17 states that will receive part of the $3 BILLION  funding out of the 35 that applied. The money is destined to improve schools and increase student achievement. The funding for Georgia amounts to $400,000 and was awarded to states that could demonstrate the plans they have made and will make to improve curriculum standards, build data systems that measure student success, recruit effective teachers and principals and bring the lower performing schools into compliance. Perdue said that the Georgia Education Department has a “clear and compelling plan” to improve student achievement. The following Georgia schools districts have signed on to receive funding: Meriwether, Hall, Henry, White, Valdosta, Spalding, Rockdale, Jones, Atlanta, Ben Hill, Carrolton, Bibb, Chatham, Clayton, Burke, Richmond, Dade, DeKalb, Dougherty, Cherokee, Gainesville and Gwinnett.  This encompasses about 2/3 of Georgia’s schools which have the lowest achievement record and which include more than half the Hispanics and Blacks enrolled.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Barrow County Mulling Tax Increase. At their regular meeting tonight, Barrow County Commissioners discussed the $1.5 million short fall in revenues and how to make it up – either cut services or raise taxes. However, the budget has already been “cut to the bone” and even with an additional 5% cut from each department, it would trim off only about 0.5 million.  Now they are considering eliminating some programs, one being the Keep Barrow County Beautiful and shifting to a 4-day work week in combination with a millage raise hike. Residents with homes that received an assessment of decreased fair market values would not see an increase – only those residents whose assessments are the same as last year would pay the increase taxes. A 1-mill raise would generate about $1.5 million. Commissioners must make a decision by Sept 30, the end of the county fiscal year.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Government Annex Renovation Stalled. The BOC voted to hire R W Allen as the Construction Manager at Risk for the renovation project for $2,990. The BOC Chairman then announced a public meeting on September 21 at the Civic Center was needed before proceeding further to hear from citizens concerning the renovation of the Government Annex.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Hard Labor Creek Reservoir Can Go Forward. Land acquisition for the massive lake and surrounding protective buffer has been in the works for almost 2 years. Government officials had to obtain right-of-way land in order to move forward. Some private land owners readily accepted the government’s offer, but several land owners rejected the amount hoping they could get more for their land. But the government would not budge from their offer and were on the verge of exercising their “public domain” authority to “take” the land which would have cost the taxpayer more in litigation. Just recently, the last hold-out land owner has agreed to the government’s price. The small parcel of land in dispute was 0.119 acres on Fairplay Road in Social Circle with an offer of $17,000. The total acreage of the Reservoir is 2,309 although the actual acreage for the lake and reservoir is only 1,370. Another land acquisition case is pending: It involves 24.7 acres on Browning Shoals Road with an offer of $3.2 million, but family owners disagreed and the case has gone to the Walton County Superior Court with the promise of a settlement soon.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Bad Weather. It rained as much as 3 inches in some places around the county. The downpour, accompanied by thunder and lightning and scattered hail, created many calls to emergency personnel for help. It was a welcome relief from the smothering heat for the last several days.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010
J&J Chemical Company Destroyed by Fire. The 24-employee plant located in Northeast Clarke County for whom a few Oconee County residents worked, caught fire in the early morning hours last night and burned most of today. The company manufactures such products as deodorizers, volatile solutions for removing paint and the like and other toxic solutions. The smoke contaminated the air and the barrels of an aldehyde derivative contaminated the soil – both eye irritants. Hazardous Material Response Team determined after taking air samples that the air was safe for a half mile radius.  The EPD will assess the damage and monitor any needed environmental clean-up. No one was in the 30,000 sq ft building when the blaze started.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Georgia Chamber of Commerce Legislative Update: The Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness created in the last session by the General Assembly held its first meeting on Wednesday, July 28. Following opening remarks by the council members, the governor nominated and the committee approved A.D. Frazier as Chairman.  Dr. Carolyn Bordeaux, Director of the Senate Budget Office, then provided an overview of taxes in Georgia. That presentation, along with other materials, can be found on a website created by the council at the following link: http://fiscalresearch.gsu.edu/taxreform/. The council committed to holding regular public meetings in Atlanta and around the state. The website above will contain information received by the council as well as a schedule of upcoming meetings.

Thursday, July 29, 2010
Needed School Supply List Published. Each year the local weekly The Oconee Enterprise, prints a list of items needed for the coming year to accommodate the goal of the system – to allow the best education possible for Oconee students. The list is too numerous to repeat here, so refer to the July 29, 2010 Enterprise issue for a complete list which is broken down by grades. Some listed are: Kindergarten – vinyl nap mats; First grade – 12 sharpened No 2 pencils; Second Grade – one pkg of washable markers; Third Grade – one pair of scissors; Fourth Grade – a 12-inch ruler’ Fifth Grade – Elmer’s glue sticks; Sicth Grade – 2 rolls of paper towels; Seventh Grade – 2 packs of 3 x 5 index cards; and Eighth Grade – one cylinder of bacterial wipes. High School Teachers will send home a list with the students.

Thursday, July 29, 2010
Georgia Tax Reform Council Begins Task. Atlanta Business Chronicle – by Dave Williams Staff Writer. “A panel of academic economists and business leaders Wednesday launched five months of work that could lead to an overhaul of Georgia’s tax laws. The 11-member Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians, created by the General Assembly this year, will consider how state and local income, property and sales taxes are affecting government revenues and taxpayers’ wallets. The group must develop recommendations by the opening of the 2011 legislative session in January. It’s an ambitious timetable, Rep. Larry O’Neal, R-Warner Robins, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said in an opening charge to the council. “We are in effect asking you in a very short time to examine the entire tax code of Georgia … and make it more stable, balanced and reliable,” O’Neal said. The panel’s work will take place with a deep recession as a backdrop, a downturn that has produced a steady decline in state tax revenues and forced Gov. Sonny Perdue and Georgia lawmakers to cut several billion dollars from state agency budgets. Critics also argue that the current system isn’t offering enough inducements to lure new businesses to Georgia. “We’re here because a lot of us in the General Assembly believe the way out of the economic downturn is by growing jobs,” said House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge. However, there also will be pressure on the council to recommend eliminating at least some of the business tax breaks that have piled up over the years because of their drain on state coffers. Legislative leaders have said all options will be on the table, including expanding Georgia’s sales tax to purchases of services as well as goods, and eliminating the sales tax exemption on groceries. The panel’s recommendations will be turned over to a special legislative committee, which will develop them into one or more tax reform bills for consideration by the full General Assembly. Lawmakers then must vote the entire package up or down without changes, a process modeled after Congress’ handling of federal base closings. Banking consultant A.D. Frazier, who was elected chairman of the council on Wednesday by the other members, said the group will hold meetings across the state in the coming months to gather input. Frazier, who served as a top executive on the Atlanta Olympics organizing committee, said the council faces some difficult choices, not all of which will be politically popular. “The easy ones have already been made,” he said.

Friday, July 30, 2010
A Set-Back for Arizona Immigration Law. US District Judge Susan Bolton rebuked the state law by putting a hold on it hours before it was to go into effect. Republican Jan Brewer said the state will appeal and seek to get the Judge’s ruling overturned. “Requiring Arizona law enforcement officials and agencies to determine the immigration status of every person who is arrested burdens lawfully-present aliens because their liberty will be restricted while their status is checked,” said Bolton. The reason for putting the law on hold is to give the debate to the courts. The Governor signed the immigration law in April which was designed to go into effect this morning. As a result, a large number of illegal immigrants left the state. The state’s action has prompted a national debate and out-of-state businesses to boycott the state. Lawyers for the state contend that the law is constitutional (very similar to the federal law) and look forward to a win in the US Supreme Court. The state’s action has also prompted many other states to pass similar laws. Georgia has not done so yet, but many candidates are agreeing that Georgia should pass such a law in the 2011 Legislative Session.

Friday, July 30, 2010
Chemicals From J&J Fire Turns Water Blue. Chemicals in a toilet cleaner dye from the warehouse washed into Trail Creek nearby and turned the water a brilliant blue that has killed some water life. The dye is probably harmless but other chemicals such as methanol, paradichlorobenzene and formaldehyde are killing the bio life of the water, the extent of which will not be known until special tests are performed along about a mile of the flow. Water from Trail Creek flows into the North Oconee River at Dudley Park. The plant was located in the Athens Technology Park off Olympic Drive. Many tests will be performed to determine the extent of the damage.

Friday, July 30, 2010
Oconee and Clarke County Partnership. Last year, discussions occurred among leaders from the economic development of the 2 counties concerning a partnership that would fashion a plan to bring in the “big box” type mega business to the area to the benefit both counties. The 900-acrea “Orkin” (owned by the Orkin family that resides in FL) was the center of the partnership since part of the land lies in Clarke (smaller) and part in Oconee (larger) – raw land, so to speak, since no infrastructure for sewer and water has been built, no clearing of land for roads or streets – nothing. The Clarke reps suggested a 2-county Board of directors (mostly volunteer businessmen from both counties) and a paid director which would require both counties to throw in about $400,000 each. The responsibility of the Board was to do what it takes to entice a big company to locate on the Orkin track or any other land that might become available. Each group of the 2 county representatives went back to study the effects of such a partnership. Clarke remained excited; Oconee officials hedged and finally let the discussion drop and never made a decision. Reasons were that Oconee was not equipped to play in the big time arrangement citing the building of the infrastructure in the larger portion of the land is more than the county can afford at this time. Also the initial $400,000 membership fee was prohibitive during such a downturn in the economy.

Friday, July 30, 2010
Oconee and Clarke County Partnership – a Year Later. On Tuesday of this week, Sheriff Scott Berry presented before the BOC, a plan of which he wanted the BOC to be aware: a partnership with Clarke County to house their overflow of inmates in the Oconee 140-bed jail (about 70 prisoners) to fill the empty beds at $35 per inmate. The jail houses only about 30 Oconee inmates currently. He said the arrangement would bring in a little less than a half million in a year. The housing of Clarke inmates in Oconee rather than the Irwin County Detention Center (higher cost per inmate) would save Clarke about a quarter million a year. Most of the inmates are waiting to be sent to a state facility as part of the correction system. This has become a problem statewide and many prisoners just sit in local jails awaiting transfer. For those counties that have new jails with extra beds, they are making arrangements with other counties to help relieve the situation. Meanwhile, the 2 counties have found an excellent reason to partner. It’s a “win-win” for both counties and the BOC agreed.  A partnership for business development discussed a year ago? Clarke County would have the upper hand.

Friday, July 30, 2010
Can Local Government Cut Spending Without a Reduction in Services? The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office believes they have found a way – use propane as an alternative fuel for the fleet of vehicles. They started the experiment in late 2008 by retrofitting a few (4) factory issued cruisers with systems that allowed the use of propane gas. Now they are in the process of modifying all 50 patrol cars. The switch will save about a quarter million dollars per year in fuel as stated by Sheriff Stan Evans who believes that the school system may even be considering the change for their school buses. He has been receiving calls from across the nation from county officials who are interested in the savings. The “experiment” is going to be used as a model for many county governments in Georgia and other states that must find others ways to cut spending other than reducing services which is the first item to be attacked by a county finance office to balance their budgets.

Saturday, July 31, 2010
Last Saturday Stroll This Season. Many of the Saturday Strolls have taken participants at various locations in the city limits, but many centered around the City’s Harris Shoals Park. This last stroll was also at the Park with Sean Sterrett, doctoral student, leading the discussion – on snakes and turtles. He talked about turtle and snake habitats and the types of both that might habitat the Calls Creek Stream that flows through the Park. Participants are encouraged to each pay a $5 fee to the stroll guide who then gives the collection to his favorite charity. Sterrett will donate to the Georgia Chapter of the Society of Conservation Biology. The first Stroll took place on May 1. The last Stroll on July 31. Strolls may resume next year for the same months. Contact:
Patricia.priest@yahoo.com for more information.

Saturday, July 31, 2010
Oconee Scout Master Honored. Paul Matthews, Watkinsville resident was among 300 Scout Masters to receive the honor of a spot in the America 100^th Anniversary National Hall of Leadership for his work with local groups to graduate a large number of boys for the Eagle Scout Award – an award that requires a scout to take on and complete a comprehensive service project in his community. Matthews has served as the Scoutmaster for the past 16 years for Troop 149 sponsored by the Oconee Friendship Presbyterian Church on US 441. Troop 149 is a part of the Northeast Georgia Council and the honor is also a tribute to the Council. The ceremony was held in Washington, DC as each Master was recognized and his name placed in the record for the 100^th celebration which will be housed in National Scouting Museum in Texas. Each of the 300 Boy Scouts of America Councils named an honoree from their Councils.

Saturday, July 31, 2010
Photo Studio on Residential Simonton Bridge Road. Last month, the McClure family (father and daughter) requested a rezone before the Watkinsville City Council for property (68 Simonton B R) they had purchased to start a photography business. They ran into a few snags – a larger sign than the sign ordinance required was proposed – but a compromise was worked out between to 2 parties. Fear that the Simonton Bridge residential character would be changed by setting a precedent was the basis for the controversy. The photo studio is a home business in an old home on about 4 acres of well-kept landscape. The new owners plan to specialize in outdoor settings for shots that take advantage of the beautiful scenery. They plan to repaint the house but will retain the well-known red door since it is such a mark of identity in the community.

Saturday, July 31, 2010
New Playground Equipment Being Used Frequently.  The Oconee Parks & Recreational Department just opened the new playground area at Herman C Michael Park on Hwy 53. The new structures include a Zero-G swing chairs, a standing seesaw, an Xcape area, a World of fun unit, an artificial rock climber unit, talk tubes and an ADA Gizmo panel. Many new items were included and made accessible for the physically challenged via the American Disabilities Act. Cost of the 16-year old playground equipment replacement was paid for from the 2004 SPLOST fund. Lisa Davol, the Park’s assistant director says the number of public participants at both the Herman C Michael and Veterans Parks have increased tremendously in the past year including a significant increase of the “out-of-county” public. The Department charges reasonable fees for its opportunities which goes a long way to being a self-sufficient enterprise.
The End

Note: The “What Happened” for the Month is a collection of short descriptions for the events that took place within the most recent month, but may not be inclusive. Information listed is from various sources: personal attendance at events, Washington Post, Associated Press, various Web sites, Fox News TV, George Will and other writers, the Atlanta Constitution, Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, the Oconee Enterprise, the Athens Banner Herald,  the Augusta Chronicle, the Bainbridge Searchlight News, NewsMax, USA Today, the Patriot and Talk Radio (1340).  For details on any item, go to the long write-up under the heading ARTICLE. However, some items on this page may not have a corresponding longer Article.

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